Digital camera and method of changing data processing sequence used for the same

ABSTRACT

A digital camera such that the order of processing of image data recorded on a recording medium and a method of changing the order of processing of the recorded image data. When an image is recorded, information concerning image data is recorded in an image data management file as a management record of respective image data units. The image number of the images of which the order or processing is desired to be changed is determined, and a desired, processing order is determined. The management records after the image number are saved and the control record of the image to be processed is written in the control record position of the desired processing order. The saved control records are written in the control record positions in the desired order, and the written image numbers are rearranged in the ascending order.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No.09/419,070 filed Oct. 15, 1999, which is a continuation-in-partapplication of PCT/JP98/01252 filed on Mar. 20, 1998 which claimsbenefit of priority based on Japanese Application Nos. Hei. 9-99454,filed Apr. 16, 1997 and Hei. 10-61020, filed Mar. 12, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a digital camera and, moreparticularly, a digital camera which can change the processing sequencesuch as display sequence of image data recorded on a recording medium.

Upon taking pictures successively, there may be occurred such a casewherein after pictures of a certain object A are taken and then picturesof another object B are taken, a photographer wants to take pictures ofthe object A again due to some reason, for example, he could not orforgot to take desired images. It is of course that the suceedinglytaken picture of the object A is recorded after the pictures of theobject B. In such case, if the suceedingly taken picture of the object Acan be rearranged to continue to the precedingly taken pictures of theobject A, it is convenient for handling. According to the normal camerausing the film, since the taken pictures are recorded on the film intime series, it is very difficult to change sequence of the takenpictures on the film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, the digital camera (electronic still camera) are nowspreading. Since image data which are picked up and recorded by thedigital camera are electronic data (digital data), it is convenient forthe user if picked-up and recorded sequence of the image data can bechanged to display them when the image data are displayed on a liquidcrystal display, and if the image data can be transmitted while changingthe sequence of the image data when the image data are transmitted to apersonal computer (abbreviated as “PC” hereinafter). Especially, in thedigital camera which has a function for reproducing the recorded imagesin order, it is very convenient if the user can change the reproductionorder.

The present invention has been made in view of the above requests, andit is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camerawhich can change processing sequence of the image data recorded on therecording medium into desired sequence, and a method of changingprocessing sequence of image data recorded in a digital camera.

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention,there is provided a digital camera for recording image data onto arecording medium by converting an image pickup light photoelectrically,comprising: an image data management file for storing a plurality ofrecording information of the recorded image data in connection with therespective image data, the image data management file stored into therecording medium separately from the image data; and means for updatingthe image data management file.

Processing sequence of the recorded image data is changed by updating atleast a part of the plurality of recording information stored in theimage data management file.

The digital camera further comprises display means for displaying therecorded image data. An order of which the image data are displayed onthe display means is changed in compliance with the change of theprocessing sequence.

The digital camera further comprises output means for outputting therecorded image data to an external device. An order of which the imagedata are outputted to the external device is changed in compliance withthe change of the processing sequence.

The digital camera of the present invention other than the abovecontains those evident from description of the best modes forimplementing the present invention or the drawings as an aspect of thepresent invention.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method ofchanging processing sequence of image data recorded in a recordingmedium of a digital camera by converting an image pick up lightphotoelectrically, the digital camera an image data management file forstoring a plurality of recording information of the recorded image datain connection with the respective image data, the image data managementfile stored into the recording medium separately from the image data,the method comprising the steps of: deciding processing sequence ofpredetermined image data; and updating the image data management file incompliance with the processing sequence.

The step of updating the image data management file includes a step ofupdating at least a part of a plurality of recording information storedin the image data management file.

The method for the digital camera of the present invention other thanthe above contains those evident from description of the best modes forimplementing the present invention or the drawings as an aspect of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are block diagrams showing an example of aconfiguration of a digital camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a controller;

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are views showing an example of a configuration of adata management file;

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are views showing update of the data management filein order to change logically the image processing sequence;

FIGS. 5(a)-5(c) are views showing an example of a configuration ofanother data management file;

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are views showing logical change of the imageprocessing sequence by updating the data management file shown in FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing another logical change of the image processingsequence by updating the data management file shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8(a)-8(c) are views showing an example of an image insertiondisplay;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of an imageinsertion section;

FIGS. 10(a)-10(c) are views showing another example of the imageinsertion display; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of theimage insertion section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to the accompanying drawings hereinafter.

FIG. 1(a) is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of adigital camera according to the present invention. The digital camera100 comprises an optical system 1 composed of lenses, a diaphragmmechanism, etc., and for irradiating a reflected light reflected from animaging object onto a CCD 2; the CCD 2 for converting an image pickuplight supplied from the optical system 1 into an electric signal; asignal processor 3 for processing the signal from the CCD 2 and thenoutputting the signal as multi-valued (R, G, B) raster data (image data)to a frame memory 6; a control section 4 for controlling operations ofthe signal processor 3, the frame memories 6, a signal processor 7 and arecording medium controller 8, and controlling the image processing, theimage compressing/expansion processings, etc.; an input section 5 forinputting an instruction from the user by the operation of the switch,etc. to provide it to the control section 4; the signal processor 7 forconverting the R, G, B raster data on the frame memory 6 into aluminance component Y and color difference components U, V, JPEG(JointPhotographic Experts Group) compressing these components, and executingthe contraction processing to generate thumbnail image; the recordingmedium controller 8 for receiving the output of the signal processor 7,and executing the controls to write JPEG-compressed image data (referredto as “JPEG image data” hereinafter) and thumbnail image data into apredetermined location of a built-in recording medium 9 or an extendedrecording medium 10, to read respective recorded JPEG image data, etc.;the built-in recording medium 9 for storing the JPEG image data; theextended recording medium 10 which is attached as occasion demands; aninterface 11 employed to communicate the data with external devices; adisplay section 15 composed of LED indicators, etc., for displayingoperation states of the switch and functional specifications; and adisplay screen 16 composed of a liquid crystal display, etc., fordisplaying the picked-up image or the imaging object image.

The built-in recording medium 9 is composed of a 4 MB flash memory beingfixed on the inside of the camera 100. A 4 to 45 MB compact flash(trademark of SanDisk Corporation) card is employed as the extendedrecording medium 10. As the built-in recording medium 9 and the extendedrecording medium 10, a SRAM (Static RAM), a memory card, a FD (floppydisk), HDD (hard disk drive), MD (mini disk), etc. may be employed.

FIG. 1(b) shows a configuration of the control section 4. The controlsection 4 is composed of a CPU 41, a RAM 42, and a ROM 43. Control means430 (FIG. 2) which consists of a group of programs necessary foroperation control and data processing in the digital camera 100 isstored in the ROM 43. If a group of programs constituting a controller430 stored in the ROM 43 are stored in the built-in recording medium 9,the ROM 43 may be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a configuration of the controller430 stored in the ROM 43. The controller 430 is composed of a meansrequired for the operation control of the digital camera 100, and anmeans required for the JPEG compression of the image data,storing/reading of the JPEG image data, or the expansion of the JPEGimage data.

The controller 430 comprises a control system 431, an operationjudgement section 432, internal programs 433, data management section50, and an image insertion section 60. Although the a data managementsection 50 and the image insertion section 60 are contained in theinternal programs 433 in the embodiment, they are illustratedindependently by way of explanation.

The control system 431 executes an overall operation control of thedigital camera 100, for example, control of a diaphragm motor driver(not shown) of the optical system, operation controls of the signalprocessor 3, the frame memory 6, the signal processor 7 and therecording medium controller 8, and controls of the operation judgementsection 432, the data management section 50, and the image insertionsection 60.

The operation judgement section 432 judges what operation is input fromthe input section 5 in accordance with the instruction given by the userwhen a desired operation or processing is selected by the user tooperate the switch, etc. provided on the digital camera 100. In responseto the decision result, the operation judgement section 432 transfersthe control to the concerned program of the internal programs 433 to theimage insertion section 60, or transfers the control to the controlsystem 431 to execute the externally introduced program.

The internal programs 433 are made up of programs for picking up theimages, generating the JPEG image data, and controlling LED display atthe time of picking up the image, etc., and are built in the ROM 43. Asan example of the internal program, there is a compression program inthe JPEG specification, which is necessary for writing the JPEG imagedata into the built-in recording medium 9.

The image data (JPEG image data) are processed by the internal programs433 or a circuit equivalent thereto, and stored in the built-inrecording medium 9 or the extended recording medium 10 by the recordingmedium controller 8.

The data management section 50 associates with load/deletion/addition ofthe picked-up image data into/from/into the recording medium 9 andload/deletion/addition of the program code introduced from the externaldevice, and executes data management which is equivalent to filemanagement being widely conducted by the computer device such as the PC,etc. For example, there is the file management in MS-DOS (trademark ofMicrosoft Corporation), etc.

The generated image data are loaded onto the recording medium 9 or theextended recording medium 10 by the recording medium controller 8. Inthis case, there is a necessity that the recording location of the imagedata on the recording medium 9 must be managed. For example, the datamust be written into empty areas, i.e., write enable areas when theimage data are recorded, but there is a need that the recording mediumcontroller 8 must know which area of the recording medium 9 is the emptyareas.

For this reason, the data management section 50 is constructed to handlea sheet of image data as the data file, provide separately its registerlist, e.g., directory, and record the register list itself in apredetermined location of the recording medium as a file (referred to asa “data management file 51” hereinafter). The predetermined location ofthe recording medium corresponds to a predetermined block if therecording medium 9 is composed of the flash memory, or a predeterminedsector and track if the recording medium 9 is composed of the magneticdisk.

FIGS. 3(a) and (b) show an example of the data management file 51. Thedata management file 51 has a management record 510 every image data,and such management record comprises at least an image number (or IDnumber) 511, a recording start position 512 and a recording end position513 of the image data, a pointer 514 indicating a continuous recordingstart position, an associated image number 515, and a writeinhibit/enable flag 516.

The image number 511 consists of a data type code and a number. Thethumbnail image data, the image data, etc. are present as the data type,and the data type code is defined such that the thumbnail image data areindicated by “A”, the image data are indicated by “B”, or the like.

Normally the recorded address of the image is written into the recordingstart position 512 and the recording end position 513. If the recordingmedium 9 is composed of the flash memory, the block number of thecorresponding image data is written thereinto.

The pointer indicates a continuous recording start position which issearched by the recording medium controller 8 when an area where onedata is to be written is smaller in size of the data and which isseparated from the area where the one data is to be written. Accordingto use of the pointer, the data can be logically continuously loaded andread. In this case, if the recording end position coincides with the endposition of the loaded data, a special code, e.g., 0000, is written intothe pointer 514.

The associated image number 515 records the image number of thecorresponding thumbnail image data if the concerned data are the imagedata, or the image number of the corresponding image data if theconcerned data are the thumbnail image data. In this event, as shown inFIG. 3(a), if thumbnail image management records and JPEG imagemanagement records correspond to each other at a fixed distance (addressdistance), the associated image number 515 should not be provided sincethe thumbnail image management records and the JPEG image managementrecords can be correlated with each other.

As for the write inhibit/enable flag 516, normally the write inhibitcode is written when the data are loaded while the write enable code iswritten when the data are deleted, etc. Since the data managementsection 50 checks the flag 516, then treats the data in the area whichis defined by the recording start position 512 and the recording endposition 513 and the in area which is defined by the pointer 514 as theread inhibit data, the image data can be logically deleted in fact whenthe write enable flag is written into the area.

The data management section 50 is not limited to the above system. Thedata management section 50 may be constructed to write several places ofdata identification numbers to head positions of the thumbnail imagedata and the JPEG image data, for example, A01 to An for the thumbnailimage data and B01 to Bn for the JPEG image data upon loading the data,and then to manage recording information such as attributes, writelocation, occupied areas, etc. of respective data by searching theidentification numbers from the head of the recording medium.

As the method of changing processing sequence of the recorded imagedata, there are change of physical sequence of the image data and changeof logical sequence of the image data.

As a particular example of change of physical sequence of the imagedata, in the image data recorded in the order of the image numbers A010,A020, A030, . . . , An−1, An, an example in which A011 picked up afterAn is inserted after A010 will be considered. First, the image data ofthe image number A020 are saved to the RAM 42, then the image data ofthe image number A011 are written into the location of the image data ofthe image number A020, and then the image data of the image number A011are canceled from the original location. Then, the image data of theimage number A030 are saved into the RAM 42, and then the image data ofthe image number A020 which have already been saved in the RAM 42 arewritten into the location of the image data of the image number A030.All image data are replaced in the order of the image numbers A010,A011, A020, A030, . . . , An−1, An by repeating the above operations.

The above method is suitable for sequence change in the record which hasa relatively small data size, e.g., sorting of a key record of the indexfile. It is difficult to save the image data having the large data sizeinto the RAM 42 having a small capacity. Since save and load must berepeated in unit of block, or the like to write one image data, theimage data must be saved into a working memory, e.g., for which theframe memory 6 is substituted, in practice. However, since the number ofwriting times of the flash memory cannot be assured only about tenthousand times if the flash memory is employed as the built-in recordingmedium 9, it is impossible to say that it is not desired to repeatload/cancel operations many times in changing the sequence of the image.

Next, the change of logical sequence of the image data will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 3(a) and (b). The change of the processingsequence of the image data can be achieved by replacing the managementrecord 510 registered in the data management file 51 in unit of theimage number. Since the number of the management records which can beregistered in the data management file 51 is small and also the size ofthe management record 510 which consists of the image number 511, therecording start position 512, the recording end position 513, andaddition information (514 to 516) is small, the sequence of themanagement record 510 can be updated physically by loading the datamanagement file 51 itself into the RAM 42. Also, the data managementfile 51 can be stored in the built-in memory medium 9 and the extendedmemory medium 10 respectively, but it may be stored in a rewritablememory such as EEPROM, etc.

FIGS. 4(a) and (b) are views showing the logical change of theprocessing sequence.

FIG. 4(a) shows the data management file 51 before the processingsequence is changed. FIG. 4(b) shows the data management file 51 afterthe processing sequence has been changed. For convenience ofexplanation, only the image number 511, the recording start position512, and the recording end position 513 are illustrated for five imagedata.

In FIG. 4(a), it is assumed that the image of the image number A05 isinserted as an inserted image between A01 and A02. To begin with, themanagement records 510 of A02 to A04 are saved in the RAM 42, and thenthe management record 510 of A05 is loaded in the location A02. Then,when the management records 510 of A02 to A04 are loaded in thelocations A03 to A05, the order of the management records 510 is A01,A05, A02, A03, A04 and thus A05 is inserted between A01 and A02. Afterthis, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the image numbers are updated in ascendingorder like A01, A02, A03, A04, and A05. As a result, the image insertioncan be achieved logically without the change of the physical location ofthe image data which are stored in the recording medium.

If the flash memory is employed as the built-in recording medium 9, theblock number is written into the recording start position 512, therecording end position 513, and the pointer 514, and the data managementfile 51 itself is loaded in unit of block. Therefore, the new datamanagement file 51 being changed as above can be implemented by savingall the data management files 51 in the RAM 42 once, and then cancelingthe contents of the block of the flash memory on which the datamanagement files 51 has been written.

(Other Embodiments of the Present Invention)

Another example of data management by the data management section 50 isshown in FIGS. 5(a) to (c). The image data are managed by a file namemanagement file 71, a file management table 72, and an image data 73.The file name management file 71 consists of a file name 711 forindicating each image data 731, and a pointer 712 for indicating alocation in which the image data 731 is recorded. The above pointer 712,and a recording start location 721 and a recording end location 722 inwhich the image data 731 is recorded are stored in the file managementtable 72. In order to indicate the end of the image data, a specialcode, e.g., “FFFFFFFF” is written as the file name.

(Another Embodiment 1)

The logical change of the processing sequence of the image data will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 6(a) and (b).

The processing sequence of the image data is given in compliance withthe stored order of the file names 711 stored in the file namemanagement file 71. As shown in FIG. 6(a), it is assumed that the imagedata A corresponds to the file name of image 001 and then the image dataB, C, D, E correspond to the file names of images 002 to 005 insequence. At this time, the processing sequence can be given as theprocessing sequence of the image data A, B, C, D, E in compliance withthe stored order of the file names 711.

Then, let us consider the case where the image data are arranged in theprocessing sequence of the image data A, E, B, C, D by updating theprocessing sequence of the image data. As shown in FIG. 6(b), the imagedata are updated by checking the pointer 712 in the file name managementfile 71. Since the pointer 712 in the file name management file 71 isnot updated, the processing sequence of the image data is changed in theorder of the image data A, E, B, C, D.

(Another Embodiment 2)

Although the processing sequence of the image data is set in the storedorder of the file names 711 in the above another embodiment 1, dataindicating the processing sequence will be attached to the file name 711per se in this another Embodiment 2.

For instance, “XXX” in the image XXX of the file name 711 is managed asthe data indicating the processing sequence. In the example shown isFIG. 6(a), since image 001 is first processed and then images 002, . . ., image 005 are processed in order suceedingly, the processing sequenceof the image data 731 is given as the order of the image data A, B, C,D, E.

Next, let us consider the case where the above processing sequence isset in the order of the image data A, E, B, C, D. Since the processingsequence of the image data is given by the sequence of the numerals inthe file names if only the file names 711 in the file name managementtable 71 are updated as shown in FIG. 7, such processing sequence of theimage data can be changed on the order of the image data A, E, B, C, D.

(Another Embodiment 3)

Unless the image data management table is not particularly provided, theprocessing sequence can be changed by attaching information indicatingthe processing sequence to a part of the image data and then updatingthe information.

<Embodiment 1>

FIGS. 8(a) to (c) are views showing an example of a display screen onwhich an inserted image and an inserted position candidate image aredisplayed. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation ofan image insertion section 60.

(1) Display of Inserted Image and Inserted Position Candidate Image

In step S1, first the first thumbnail image on the recording medium aswell as the image number is displayed. If the user continues to push abutton 19, the thumbnail images as well as the image numbers aredisplayed continuously, as shown in FIG. 8(a). If the user pushes abutton 20, the display returns to the thumbnail image which isprecedingly displayed. If the user pushes the button 17 when the imageto be inserted is displayed, the desired inserted image and the mountainlandscape image of the image number A051 can be displayed fixedly on theright side of the screen, as shown in FIG. 8(b).

In step S2, the first thumbnail image A001 (portrait image) is displayedas the inserted position candidate image on the left side of the screen.For example, if the user desires to combine the suceedingly picked-upmountain landscape image A051 with the precedingly picked-up mountainlandscape image together and then pushes a button 19 to search themountain landscape image, the thumbnail images are displayedsubsequently. If the user pushes the button 20, the screen returns tothe precedingly displayed thumbnail image. If the user pushes the button17 when the desired mountain landscape image A020 is displayed, theimage A020 can be displayed fixedly as the inserted position candidateimage on the left side of the screen. The processing advances to stepS3.

(2) Decision of Image Insertion Position

In step S3, the inserted position deciding screen in FIG. 8(c) isdisplayed to promote the user to decide that the inserted image A051should be inserted before the image A020 or after the image A020. If theuser pushes the button 19 to insert the inserted image A051 before theimage A020, the image A051 and the image A020 are switched and displayedon the left side and the right side respectively. If the user pushes thebutton 19 to insert the inserted image A051 after the image A020, theimage A051 and the image A020 are displayed as they are. In either case,flashing the OK mark requests the user to confirm them. If the button 17is pushed, an insertion flag is set to “1” when the inserted image A051should be inserted before the image A020 while the insertion flag is setto “2” when the inserted image A051 should be inserted after the imageA020, and then the processing goes to step S4.

(3) Image Insertion

In step S4, the management record 510 of the image number A051 is heldby searching the data management file 51. If the flag is “1”, themanagement records 510 of the image number A051 and subsequent imagenumbers are read from the data management file 51, and then saved in theRAM 42. The management record 510 of the image number A051 is loadedinto the location of the management record 510 of the image number A020in the data management file 51. The management record 510 which has beensaved in the RAM 42 is then read, and then written in next recordinglocations subsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S6. Since theimage number (associated image number 515) of the corresponding JPEGimage is written in the thumbnail image, the sequence of the managementrecord 510 of the JPEG image can be similarly changed. If the insertionflag is set to “2”, step S5 is carried out.

In step S5, the management records 510 of the image number A021following to the image number A020 and subsequent image numbers are readfrom the data management file 51, and then saved in the RAM 42. Themanagement records 510 of the image number A051 is loaded into thelocation of the management records 510 of the image number A021 in thedata management file 51, and then the management records 510 which havebeen saved in the RAM 42 are read and written into the succeedingrecording locations successively. Then, the processing is shifted tostep S6. In this case, the sequence of the management records 510 of theJPEG images can be similarly changed.

In step S6, the thumbnail image management record of the data managementfile 51, the image number 511 of the JPEG image management record, andthe associated image number 515 are updated in ascending order.

According to the above steps, the desired inserted image can belogically inserted into the desired locations. Since the data recordingmedium controller 8 refers to the data management file 51 inreading/loading or deleting the image data, the image data train can beoutput in accordance with the sequence of the management record 510 inthe data management file 51 at the time of display onto the liquidcrystal display 16 or output of the image data to the external device.

<Embodiment 2>

FIGS. 10(a) and (b) are examples of the display screen on which only theinserted position candidate image is displayed. FIG. 11 is a flowchartshowing the operation of the image insertion section 60.

(1) Display of Inserted image and Inserted Position Candidate Image

In step S11 in FIG. 11, first the first thumbnail image on the recordingmedium together with the image number is displayed. If the usercontinues to push the button 19, the thumbnail images as well as theimage numbers are displayed continuously as the inserted positioncandidate image, as shown in FIG. 10(a). If the user pushes the button20, the display returns to the precedingly displayed thumbnail image. Ifthe user pushes the button 17, the processing goes to step S12.

For example, it is assumed that the image number of the desired fishimage to be inserted (not shown), e.g., A56, is stored and then theimage A56 is inserted into the location of the previously picked-up fishimage by looking for such location. If the user continues to push thebutton 19, the inserted position candidate images 82, 82′ are displayed,as shown in FIG. 10(a). When the images are displayed by operating thebuttons 19, 20, and then the user, if finds the fish image, pushes thebutton 17. When the button 17 is pushed, the processing goes to stepS12.

(2) Decision of Image Insertion Position

In step S12, the inserted position deciding screen in FIG. 10(b) isdisplayed to promote the user to decide that the stored image A56 to beinserted should be inserted before the image Al 1, or between the imagesAl 1 and Al2, or after the image Al2.

If the user pushes the button 19, the insertion flag is set to “1” toinsert the inserted image before the image Al1. If the user pushes thebutton 20, the insertion flag is set to “2” to insert the inserted imagebetween the images Al 1 and Al2. If the user pushes the button 18, theinsertion flag is set to “3” to insert the inserted image after theimage Al2.

(3) Image Insertion

In step S14, when the user pushes the button 19 shown in FIG. 10(c) onetime, “10” is added to the inserted image counter and the counter valueis displayed on the liquid crystal display 16. When the user pushes thebutton 17, the thumbnail image of the concerned image number isdisplayed, and then the processing goes to step S15. While, if thebutton 18 is pushed as the error, then the counter value is set to “0”and the display returns to the display shown in FIG. 10(c).

In step S15, the management record 510 of the image number A56 is heldby searching the data management file 51. If the flag is “1”, themanagement records 510 of the image number A051 and subsequent imagenumbers are read from the data management file 51, and then saved in theRAM 42. The management record 510 of the image number A56 is loaded intothe location of the management record 510 of the image number Al 1 inthe data management file 51. The management record 510 which has beensaved in the RAM 42 is then read, and then written in next recordinglocations subsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S18. Since theimage number of the corresponding JPEG image is written in the thumbnailimage, the sequence of the management record 510 of the JPEG image canbe similarly changed. In step S16, if the image insertion flag is set to“2”, the management records 510 of the image number Al2 and subsequentimage numbers are read from the data management file 51 and saved in theRAM 42. The management record 510 of the image number A56 is loaded intothe location of the management record 510 of the image number Al 2 inthe data management file 51. The management record 510 which has beensaved in the RAM 42 is then read, and then written in next recordinglocations subsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S18. Thesequence of the management record 510 of the JPEG image can be similarlychanged.

In step S17, if the image insertion flag is set to “3”, the managementrecords 510 of the image number A13 and subsequent image numbers areread from the data management file 51 and saved in the RAM 42. Themanagement record 510 of the image number A56 is loaded into thelocation of the management record 510 of the image number A13 in thedata management file 51. The management record 510 which has been savedin the RAM 42 is then read, and then written in next recording locationssubsequently. Then, the processing goes to step S18. The sequence of themanagement record 510 of the JPEG image can be similarly changed.

In step S18, the thumbnail image management record 510 of the datamanagement file 51, the image number 511 of the JPEG image managementrecord 510, and the associated image number 515 are updated in ascendingorder.

The embodiments of the present invention have been explained as above,but it is needless to say that the present invention should not beinterpreted to be limited to the above embodiments and variousvariations and modifications may be adopted.

According to any digital camera or any method of changing processingsequence of recorded image data of the present invention, the processingsequence of the image data can be changed. Therefore, the image data canbe displayed in good order on the liquid crystal display as associatedimages. The image data to be output to the external device can also beoutput in good order as associated image data.

1. An image processing apparatus adapted to display image data recordedin a recording medium of a digital camera by converting an image pickuplight photoelectrically, comprising: an image data management file forstoring a plurality of recording information having a processingsequence, an image type and a recording location of the recorded imagedata, the image data management file being stored in the recordingmedium separately from the image data; an updater operable to update theimage data management file; and a display operable to display therecorded image data, wherein: the processing sequence of the recordedimage data is updated by changing record location information of therecorded image data to record location information of another recordedimage data; and an order of which the image data are displayed on thedisplay is changed in compliance with the change of the processingsequence.
 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: an output part operable to output the recorded imagedata to an external device, wherein an order of which the image data areoutputted to the external device is changed in compliance with thechange of the processing sequence.
 3. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the record location information is apointer to a storage location of a respective image data.
 4. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: areceiver operable to receive a user request for a change of theprocessing sequence, wherein: said request comprises selecting an imagefrom the image data and a position for the image in the processingsequence; and the updater updates the image data management file basedon the user request.
 5. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: the image type is a format of the image data; and therecord location information is a parameter identifying at least one of astart position and an end position of a storage location that stores arespective image data.
 6. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the processing sequence is logically changed bychanging the record location information while physical location of theimage data remains unchanged.
 7. A method for changing processingsequence of image processing apparatus adapted to display image datarecorded in a recording medium of a digital camera by converting animage pick up light photoelectrically, the image processing apparatushaving an image data management file for storing a plurality ofrecording information having a processing sequence and a recordinglocation information of the recorded image data, the image datamanagement file stored into the recording medium separately from theimage data, the method comprising: deciding the processing sequence ofpredetermined image data; and updating the processing sequence of therecorded image data by changing recording location information of therecorded image data to record location information of another recordedimage data.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said image datacomprises at least two file format types.
 9. The method according toclaim 8, wherein a record for an image data in one format is correlatedto a record of a respective image data in another format.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising: displaying the recorded imagedata on a display, an order of which is changed in compliance with theupdate of the processing sequence.